One word: Swarovski. If you want something a little lower in price and with less range then I'd suggest the Leica 1200. Remember the unit with the most range will range the farthest under adverse conditions. If it's raining very hard you will have trouble getting any unit to range because of all the rain drops.

I have a Swarovski 1500 that is like NIB and has all papers , box etc . that I will sell for 700.00 plus shipping . It performs as others here have testified to , I simply want to try others in order to make my own judgement/ experience first hand what is out there .

I have the bushnell 1500 elite. It has worked great in all conditions. Ranges deer and elk out to 1000yards per the company. I have tested it out to 916yds. I am very happy with it. I have direct reports from troops in the field that they have used this range finder in Iraq and Afganistan with great results. It's tough and accurate.

You didn't state what kind of range you need to be able to find. In my opinion for $300 the best you are going to be able to do is a nikon 800. That will take you to 600. If you want to range farther you are going to have to spend about $400. For that you can get into the Nikon 1200 or the new leupold. The leupold even accounts for elvation differences between you and your target. I have never had much luck with the bushnell rangefinders although i haven't tried with the elites. Just my 2 cents.